{"id":15095,"date":"2022-02-10T12:25:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-10T11:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theleansixsigmacompany.com\/uk\/?p=15095"},"modified":"2025-12-23T09:55:13","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T08:55:13","slug":"pdca","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theleansixsigmacompany.com\/uk\/library\/pdca\/","title":{"rendered":"PDCA"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
PDCA, also known as the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle, is a proven and powerful improvement method widely used within many organizations. With the PDCA Cycle, plans are drawn up, actions are carried out, and there is continuous evaluation. The intention of this cycle is to continuously guarantee quality. This is why there is a lot of evaluation, so that adjustments can be made and the process can be started again from the beginning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The PDCA Cycle, a process improvement method by Deming, is a model from the 1930s. It is one of the oldest and most popular methods used within the management of any company. This is because the cycle provides insights into a lot of important issues, namely: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
– Simple methodology, possible for any industry<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n The PDCA Cycle is easy to apply and is suitable for any industry. It offers a lot of added value that can be worked out immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n – Competitive insights<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n The PDCA cycle enables you to look at a company’s objectives. Bottlenecks are also identified. It also identifies competitors who score better on specific points. Based on all this information, new objectives can be formulated to ensure an improved process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n – Using the right objectives<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the PDCA cycle, objectives are formulated in a SMART way. For many companies, this means revisiting the objectives. In the fourth step, objectives are often adjusted and fine-tuned, after evaluations have taken place in step 3. <\/p>\n\n\n\n – Structure of processes<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Measuring is knowing and with this cycle there is continuous monitoring in both step 2 and step 3. In this way a lot of information is collected which gives more structure to processes. What goes well, what can be improved? These are questions that are asked in the cycle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Working out a method often looks different in practice. The PDCA Cycle consists of four steps: plan, do, check and act. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Plan is the first step in the PDCA Cycle. During this first step a plan is drawn up in which the intended results are clearly described. This means that objectives must be formulated SMART (Specific, Measurable, Acceptable, Realistic and Time-bound). Furthermore, it is necessary that preconditions and all available resources are also described. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The second step, Do, is about the execution and realization of the approved plan. The activities and performances are continuously recorded and evaluated during the execution. Here it is important that all those involved feel the urgency to implement the policy and achieve the right results. Monitoring the activities and performances provides a better insight into the progress and what could possibly be done differently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The third step in the PDCA Cycle, called Check, is about comparing the results achieved with the results the company has in mind. The differences and their possible causes are examined in detail. Here, questions such as “Is the policy effective?” and “Are we achieving the desired result in this way?” are asked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The last step, Act, follows right after the evaluation in step 3. Here, certain measures are taken to achieve the formulated results. With the PDCA cycle, points for improvement and vulnerabilities can be properly identified. The evaluation reveals other steps that can be applied in the fourth step, Act. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The PDCA Cycle can be applied in any sector. It can additionally be used for any process where improvement is needed. The most common processes where the PDCA Cycle is applied are such as: <\/p>\n\n\n\n The PDCA Cycle is so strong that it combines well with various tools from the Lean world. By using other tools you will learn to work out the cycle even better, and insights can be mapped out even more clearly.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The following tools are effective in the first phase, also called the plan phase: <\/p>\n\n\n\n The 5 Whys method is a very effective Six Sigma tool. Toyota developed the tool for production-related problems. Meanwhile, this tool has become very popular with many companies.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the 5 Whys tool, you identify the cause of a problem by asking the ‘why’ question 5 times. First of all, the problem is identified, so: ‘Why did this problem arise?’ The answer is a new or different problem. Next, the question “Where did this problem arise?” is answered. These steps are repeated until you get to the core, also called the root cause, of the problem. The root cause is further elaborated in the next phase. It is common to create a mind map to visualise the analysis.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nPDCA CYCLE IN PRACTICE <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
PLAN <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
DO <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
CHECK <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
ACT <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
WHEN IS THE PDCA CYCLE USED? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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IMPORTANT SUPPORTING LEAN TOOLS <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
TOOLS FOR THE PLAN PHASE <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
5 times why <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Value Stream Mapping <\/h3>\n\n\n\n